Packed but still not ready

OK so I found a topper finally! It was only three miles from my house...had been sitting by the road all year. How is it i never drove down that road to see it? Instead looking at all major cities and car dealerships. And for $50 who can complain!! Fiberglass to boot!

I've packed my truck up with all supplies I think I'll need, minus the sheep. I haven't decided if I drive half way tonight and stay with a friend, or get up early in the morning and go tomorrow? I don't know if I can fit all of my 7 sheep i was planning on taking (3 shetlands to show, 2 to sell, 2 BFL to show)

I can't let the BFL people down so they HAVE to come, and the three i'm showing HAVE to come, so maybe the two sale lambs might not fit. They wouldn't mind staying home I'm sure :)

Or they just have to realize they'll have more room on the way home because the hay and straw won't be taking up any room in the back of the truck!

such decisions.

and this is the first show i'm bringing sheep to show (i've had other shows where I've shown my sheep, they were just new purchases...not ones I raised) so its all very exciting and nerve wracking at the same time!

hope to see you all there!!

Packing for Jefferson, what do I need?

I'm trying to compile a list, can you help me?

1. water buckets
2. hay
3. straw
4. sheets/tarps to avoid nose to nose contact between farm flocks
5. chairs to sit on
6. business cards
7. flyers
8. pedigree book
9. pro-bios
10. grain
11-25. ???

I'm starting to panic!

They're bAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

First I must say I love my sister and her husband very much. they are very smart, willing to help anyone in need, and I respect them so much.

HOWEVER!!


I just don't learn.

I'm too nice. Forgiving. Idiot.

I must have the saying "walk all over me" on my face.

Remember my sister's dogs last year? (a black lab and a Siberian husky)

*They girdled trees while tied up with cables to the trees.

*They chased the cattle through the fence at least three times.

*They snapped a $300 Willow tree at the base of the tree with their cables

*They chased cats and tried killing them

*One had Oliver in his MOUTH and was growling...thank God I was there to stop it

*Worse, they killed a pygmy goat by shredding it like hamburger and he later died of shock, infection and who knows what else. Other goats had scratches and scars on them.

My dad said some pretty hurtful things to me about the dogs. His main gripe is that they were 'supposed' to be inside a corn crib (its the only thing they couldn't chew, push, jump out of or dig under) the night they got out and killed the goat. I had been diligently taking the ram and goats out of the pen back to the barn on weekends they came home. I just asked that they call a day or so ahead of time to let me know that I needed to get them out of the 'corn crib' so the dogs could get put in there. They showed up later in the weekend and hadn't bothered to call me to have me move the goats back. I was gone that day and when I got home I told them to just put them in an 8 x10 chain link kennel.

We got back and the dogs had pushed or chewed through the chain link fence and climbed or pushed under a six foot high fence that hap pend to have a hot wire close to the ground.

When the vet was out helping to try and sew up the worst goat to get it (Rufus) He said in a matter-of-fact way "well at least you put the dogs down".

I said "no, we haven't yet".

I gave my sister and her husband two options. 1. put the dog down or 2. never have them come back. That was Memorial weekend.

Three weekends between then and Labor Day they were brought back due to a: not being able to afford a boarding kennel, b: no kennels had openings for their dogs, or c: they didn't have time to call one or look into it.

They assumed I would be OK after 'cooling off' and i didn't say anything any of these times because we had a houseful of guests here and I wasn't about to get into it.

However they were tied out about 50 ft and in plain sight of the sheep and goats.

Let's jump ahead to September when they moved back in with my parents on the FARM. They assumed because they moved so quickly that the dogs would just be welcomed there to help facilitate their problems.

Why make it mine again? I gave them two simple options (see above)

I told them if they were responsible dog owners they'd figure it out on their own and that its not my problem any longer. That's part of the reason I was trying to move OUT OF STATE last year.....My entire family siding with killer dogs that are LIABILITIES....they could kill again at any time...this time maybe a neighbors kid and then what?! What about their OWN child?!

Needless to say they were staying in town at my brother-in-law's shop and I thought the problem was solved.

Well its been a year, and they still haven't sold their house in Milaca and are still living with my parents.

My dad without consulting me assured them that when their baby was born they would be able to bring the dogs back to the farm. HELLO!?! I live here too, with all of my animals that cost a fortune and unfortunately my dad paid the vet bills and the price of the tree and goat, not my sister and her husband. They just don't get it.

So my dad and I are hardly speaking and then my sister says on Friday that she wants the dogs out here at the farm this weekend because our parents were gone on the motorcycles and that my dad, because he assured them they'd be out here on the farm, was having to go into town to let the dogs out. Again...not HIS dogs and he shouldn't have to do it.

I gave her a 30 minute lecture on why I hate giving an inch and her and Aaron taking a mile. I told them if they wanted to bring the dogs out on several conditions:
1. they be on leashes at all times attached to their hands. even from the car to the garage.
2. they would sleep in crates in their garage.
3. they be let out one at a time to go to the bathroom
4. if this worked they'd have to get muzzles to put on the dogs when they were out pottying in case they ripped the leash out of their arms while going to the bathroom and therefore couldn't kill anything with a muzzle on.
5. they can never be tied outside or let to roam..even from the car to the garage.

Well my parents came home a day earlier than I thought. Aaron took the dogs back to the shop and I thought everything was OK. While I was on my way to the barn to lock the girls in for the night (the sheep) I saw that Aaron had driven BACK into town to bring the dogs BACK!? WAIT!!!! What?? Excuse me? This is the give an inch, take a mile comes into play!

My parents are now home, the weekend is now over and they can go back to the shop indefinitely.

Am I wrong?

I've been more than gracious I think even giving them an option. It wasn't like it was their first 'offense'; it was the last straw!

All the dog owners (Sibe's breeders included) and all livestock owners and even city people have told me I'm right to feel and act the way I have and that I've been more than nice with them. The only ones that don't see this are my immediate family and my sister's best friend.

Am I being taken advantage AGAIN or am I being over reactive?

I just think that with all of my trees, my cardigans, my livestock that I have a lot to LOSE when those things get loose again and kill something.........................................

And its not my problem anymore, they are THEIR dogs and they should deal with it. If they can't afford to board them or care for them properly then they should not have them.

UUGGHHH!!

Ram Lambs

I had 14 ram lambs born here this year. Being optimistic, perhaps half of them at best would be registered and sold as breeding stock. After another evaluation I only sold four ram lambs and kept one for myself. Two others that were registered...well one is VERY SOFT, very crimpy, high% UK, spotted, poll carrier and ok I'll say it. Exquisite!

But he is very narrow when he walks away from you and that really bothers me. He stands square, but I cannot feel good about selling him to someone with that obvious fault.

The other, a solid black ram lamb with scurs, he is very square but his fleece is just not as soft like butter like the ram above. I'm going to hang onto them over the winter to see for sure, but at this point I'm just not happy selling them. I was to bring them to Jefferson to sell, but maybe I'll just bring them along and get others' opinions on them.

Anyone who raises ANY kind of animal knows that not all of their offspring are going to be breeding quality or show quality. Those that sell ALL of their lambs as such are fooling the buyers and themselves. Even from an amazing ram and ewe, not every lamb is going to be a knock out, it just doesn't and can't happen. Your chances are lower yes, but still its there.

I think in all mammals the ratio of good males to females is always in the favor of the female......or we are able to 'fix' things easier with females than males. In dogs, whole litters cannot be show quality. Its a reality. Most litters if you are lucky might have one, maybe two. And this is from breeders of my CWC breed for the past 30 years.

Its the same in sheep, or cattle, or goats. You only keep the very best males to improve your female base. A pen full of amazing bulls and three heifers isn't going to get you very far.....the females only produce once a year. In our dairy cattle operation we had we only kept the best heifers and sold the rest and sold ALL the bull calves; relying only on AI (artificial insemination) to improve our dairy cows year after year after year, using only the best the breed had to offer.

How was your breeding season? Did you get a knock out ram or stud dog? Maybe a great buck or bull? In all reality you cannot have a knock out lamb crop and sell them all as show quality or breeding quality, its just not realistic. Same with puppies. You can't show the whole litter, you are kidding yourself if you do.

I think more people need to pay attention to this when they are going through evaluations of their stock. Its only better for every breed and species when you are more diligent in what you sell as breeding quality and breed improvement happens a lot faster too.

Better

I'm feeling better today. Not only did I have to work all day, but I felt much better after all the private emails, phone calls and text messages from my cyber family. Thank you. You are all loved! Thanks for your friendship. It also helps that I have my sheep and dogs to help me through these times. If I didn't have them I don't know what I'd do!

I found out today that I'm babysitting for 2 Pembrokes and 2 Italian Greyhounds Sunday and Monday. The pems have been here before but not the IGs and they are 'iffy' dogs to me...don't know that pottying outside is better than in their crate or in the house. I'm not sure what my dogs will think of them....the IGs aren't terribly friendly to me even (but they live with the Pems).

I"ll keep you posted and pray to God that I can find the time to take photos of them!

Wish me luck!

Enjoy your long weekend!!!

Life is short! Break the rules!
Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly!
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. .

And never regret anything that made you smile.

In a funk

This is not a fun post. Its rather sad, or dull. Either way its not typically me.

I'm in a real big funk this week.

This was the week to get ALL of my landscaped beds weeded (there are over 25 and counting). I was to clean all of my pigeon pens, sheep pens in the barn, pick up around the yard and in the drought, even mow every one's yard in anticipation of the end of the month. Little did I remember that its Labor Day weekend. Ugh where has my mind been?

I've had no desire to get any of this accomplished and I think I'm overwhelmed. I typically get like this in the winter when I'm bored and have cleaned the house from ceiling to floor, every closet and cupboard scrubbed and cleaned and organized.

But this is August. And I think it has to do with family. No family is perfect. Every one has its family issues or arguments. This week has been weighing heavily on me. My dad and I seem to disagree about everything, especially when it comes to how to farm, where to put the emphasis on and about my sister's dogs.

I'm mechanically inept and have asked several times to learn how to do things for my own equipment (I run a lawn care and landscaping business) but to be quite honest I hate it. Anything to do with mechanics and they always seem to happen when I'm in a rush. For the past few days my primary mower has been waiting to get its blades sharpened and new shear pins put in. Tonight I find that I need new threads on a spindle (whatever that means) and I'm now two solid days behind schedule. But that's not my parents fault or my sisters. Its mine. I let it go this long. Too stubborn to ask for help again and too hurt to talk to most of my family.

My dad said some things last night that really hurt me and typically in our Ramsay style of arguments, are forgiven and forgotten by the following morning.....with everyone acting normally and without guilt, disgust or anything. Its an odd situation but it seems to work.

Living 100 yards from my entire immediate family would be a dream come true to most people. I don't typically see my family much but it seems that when I do we either get into arguments or into discussions I don't want to get into.

Everyone has long days, add onto that stress from work, life situations and other factors. Heck that's what makes us human. I wish I were a dog or sheep. They have a lot less to worry about.

Today I tried to busy myself with around the farm duties. I did all my chores. I unloaded a wagon of small square straw bales. I tilled and weeded what's left of my sorry looking garden. I watered some of the trees and turned the sprinkler on my row of Red Osier Dogwood shrubs. Usually being busy keeps my mind off of things.

I"m not one to dwell or stew about something, and I try to forgive those for their mistakes or flaws or faults. Heck I'm not perfect, no one is. I think its deeper than that.

I'm lonely.


I live alone, I eat alone, I sleep alone (well with 5 Cardigans too), I work alone and I'm on the road to dog shows and sheep shows alone. Everyone thinks I'm the life of the party, and I can be, but its really about being with people. That's why I go somewhere every weekend. To stay sane. This town I live near is a great place to raise a family or retire with your loved one, but its not for single twenty-somethings. Or maybe not just me.

Every year I sit and think "what would life be like somewhere else? What would it be like doing a different job where there were other people to interact with? Would I appreciate my evenings alone more? Would I not be blogging about this for all 7 billion people on the planet to read?

I do a lot of soul searching. Lots of praying, or talking to God. I've been on a Christian music kick for the past few weeks, hoping that that will lift my spirits. I've been reading the Bible more diligently. It seems that the songs that stick out in my head are of forgiveness and of Salvation. The Praise and Worship songs are the ones that I love to lift my hands to the Heavens and praise His name. Maybe this is a wake up call from the Lord; maybe I'm just depressed and am trying to seek comfort in His Word.

I was baptized, confirmed and raised a Lutheran-Missouri Synod. Out in a country church where all of my ancestors are buried and where they went to church while farming the same land we are today. Its a neat place to worship, but really not what my body and soul are looking for.

I also think that by being single I feel less of a person because I am not 'going on dates' 'showing photos of my babies' or taking kids to classes (dogs don't count here). I'm not sure what it is, but I hope I realize soon what it is and start to walk the road to fix it.

So if you are Christian, please pray for me, and think of me these next few days or weeks. If you are someone who believes in 'balance' and karma, think good thoughts for me and hope that whatever my doings are, that they be fixed ASAP.

At any rate I hope to be over this soon, and figure out what to do.

Sorry for the ramblings

Ready or not, here we go! (to Jefferson!)

Well I have diligently been tying out and trying to walk the three lambs every day that I have time (which is most weekdays). Centennial and Lyons are walking on lead fairly well, especially with a bit of grain. Sheridan unfortunately thinks I am the devil himself! Every time she sees me she lays down and thinks I can't see her. She was never a friendly ewe, but you'd think she'd get used to the idea by now! Centennial and Lyons when they were younger decided that they liked me. I nearly cried when I started halter training them and they would run the other way when they saw the halters in my hand. They are now starting to warm up to me again and stand stacked while I scratch them.


This is WhitePine Centennial. She was my very first lamb of the season and was my favorite girl (and still is). She is quite consistent from front to back, with some britch wool, but is very crimpy and soft. Her back half is more bluish fleece while the front half is more creamy. She's a gem! She is out of Jazz and Chloe.



These next two photos are of WhitePine Lyons. He is my favorite horned ram of the year and is in the process of going from black to dark brown to shaela (what all of my shaelas do anyway) He is very very soft, crimpy from front to rear with little britch wool. His horns are perfect and he is friendly enough, but not overbearing. He has a perfect tail, nice length and height, he is slightly hocked but other than that a very fine specimen. He is the best at walking on lead.


Sheridan lays down as I approach............will I ever gain her trust?


When she realizes I'm not there to 'abuse' her to learn to walk, she stands on the opposite side of the tree LOL. She is black. Her father is Jazz and her mother is Shasta. Its interesting that she has no crimp and will have a more intermediate style fleece. She's soft, but only has crimp just now coming in on the front half of her body. Both parents are very crimpy. I chose her as I knew the judges prefer the longer fleeces and she has a perfect build, wide rear end, straight legs, level topline. We'll see what the judges think.........

udpate at 4pm (Sheridan walked on the lead, if only awkwardly! We finished on that note!)

A few photos I've been meaning to post!

A couple of photos of Merrymoon Ebonwald I'm a Q.T. "Ell" at the Bismarck Kennel Club shows the beginning of August.



A picture of "Zoe" Bendi Ebonwald Smthing 2 Prove at the Bismarck Kennel Club shows.



My moorit gulmoget smooth polled ram lamb from Juliann. I believe his name will be Lil'Country Barkley. He could carry spots as well.



And this is Suzanne Nevada's ewe she bought from Stephen called Sheltering Pines Snow Cloud. She's getting bred her this fall to Wintertime Jazz in hopes of getting some spotted katmogets!

Another fun weekend!

I had a great weekend with Mary Morris and Barb and Steve Peterson! We had many laughs from Thursday until Sunday and boy was my throat sore from laughing so hard!

It was also great to see the Mumme's and Lynn Stoltzmann, as well as Diana and Mackenzie and Donna and Mike Johnson, Mike Ekwall and every briefly Dawn!

After being point fodder for nearly two years, I have finally had some winnings these past few months and its a good feeling. I'm not the most competitive person, but it does feel good to win once in a while....it makes the dog showing even more fun than the social aspects and dog strategy talk!

Zoe was Winner's Bitch (WB) and Best Opposite Sex (BOS) on friday and Saturday. On saturday she was also Best of Winners (BOW). Two more points now puts her at 8 points.

Mac was Winner's Dog (WD) on Saturday for another point, he now has 4 points.

Ell was WB, BOS and BOW over a dual Champion dog on Sunday for two more points which puts her at 5 points total now. We'll wait to have her get more coat and we'll see what happens. Both girls are still under 16 months so there is no hurry, I'm just impatient lol

Chase Aaron Tibbetts

Well this is also late in coming! Last week was a whirlwind week and I'm finally taking the time to sit down and tell the world about my very first nephew!

He was born to my younger sister, Lindsay, and her husband Aaron last tuesday around 7:30pm. He weighed in a 7 pounds and 20 inches long. He is the most adorable thing I've ever seen and I'm not be partial at all! Honest!

My babies (the dogs) are excited to have him grow up so they can play with him!

here is a photo of Chase at one day old and me holding him